Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Blog Kiosk: 10/3/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Yankees hurler Bill Bevins was one out from no-hitting the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series before yielding a walk-off two-run double to pinch-hitter Cookie Lavagetto, 3-2. In 1951Bobby Thompson of the NY Giants hit the most infamous home run in Dodgers/Baseball history. He walloped a Ralph Branca pitch in the ninth inning at the Polo Grounds for a walk-off victory, 5-4, during the deciding game of a three-game series to decide who would go to the World Series. The homer has since been dubbed the "shot heard ’round the world." You can watch it here, if you must. In 2005 manager Jim Tracy is fired by the Dodgers.

“It’s just the presence,” Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling says. “I don’t think it’s even necessarily the fact that he has 15 years in the big leagues. That’s obviously part of it. But it’s his personality – very intense.”

It’s more than that, Seager says. Not that he can tell you exactly what it is.

“He’s a hard bird to kind of explain to people,” Seager says. “I tell people all the time, ‘I can tell you all the stories. I can tell you how he is. And you’re going to look at me sideways and ask what’s so great about him?’

The Best part, though, is the story of how Austin Barnes got the nickname he wore during the recent Players Weekend -- "Sam."

There was the time two years ago when he sent Austin Barnes on a rookie errand to bring him tacos in the visiting clubhouse at AT&T Park. When Barnes returned, teammate A.J. Ellis challenged Utley to call Barnes by name.

Utley called him, “Sam.” Barnes wore that as a badge of honor, literally. It was the nickname on the back of his jersey during the recent Players’ Weekend.

This should be no surprise to Dodger fans. Paul Swydan at FanGraphs ranks; "The 10 Best Part-Time Players of 2017," and is includes the Dodgers own Austin Barnes in the #1 spot.

For the season, he nearly walked as many times (39) as he struck out (43) and posted a .408 OBP, joining Posey as one of just 129 catchers to ever do so — and the first to do it since 2014, when Russell Martin recorded a .402 OBP with the Pirates. Oh, and he started four games at second base. Could he keep this production up over a full season? I don’t know, and we probably won’t get to find out unless Yasmani Grandal gets hurt, but either way — I. Love. Austin. Barnes.

This is now available on Netflix. Per Kayla Cobb at the Decider; "‘Long Shot’ Tells How ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and a Dodgers Game Saved a Man’s Life."

Awesome! Night Owls Cards shares some pics from the OKC Dodgers minor league sets from the past two season, here.

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“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey. There’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else. I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.” -- A.J. Ellis